Liquid-measuring apparatus.



U OUID MEASURING APPARATUS. APPLICATION man FEB- 15. 1915.

1,145,376 Patented July 6, 1915.]

JAMES EDWARD LEA, OF MANCHESTER, EN GLANDI LIQUID-MEASURING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6,1915,

Application filed February 15, 1915. Serial N 0. 8,432. .7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES EDWARD LEA, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, and resident of Manchester, England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Liquid- MeasuringApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to apparatus for measuring a liquid flowing over aV notch or weir, or through an orifice, and it relates, in particular,to apparatus of the kind known as the Lea V notch recorder and formingthe subject of Letters Patent N 0. 815102. lvlth measuring instrument isoperated by a float situated within a float chamber, this lattercommunicating with a tank through which flows the liquid to be measured.The tank and float chamber are usually arranged at a point below themeasuring instrument, the float being directly connected to the usualoperating member of the instrument through the floor of the instrumentcasing. In some cases, however, the tank and float chamber require to beplaced at a higher level than the instrument, and in such circumstancesit is customary to use a cord or chain, one end of which is secured tothe instrument, while its other end passes upward and outside the floatchamber float. With such an arrangement there is a considerable amountof friction, which interferes with the sensitive or correct working ofthe instrument.

This invention has for its object to provide a form of float chamber andfloat, which when used at a higher level than the instrument, allows ofa direct, straight-line,

the instrument.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a vertical section ofthe improved float chamber and float, while Fig. 2 illustrates themanner in which the invention is applied.

According to the invention and referring to Fig. 1, a is the floatchamber, usually in the form of a sheet-metal cylinder, closed top andbottom. In the bottom plate and central thereto is an orifice 6, whilesecured to the bottom plate, and fixed vertically over the orifice, isan open-ended tube 0. This tube rises to a height somewhat greater thanthe maximum level of the liquid to be measured. Fitting over andconcentrically frictionless connection between the float and such typeof apparatus the and over guide pulleys, to the combined tube and float,and preferably beof the float chamber a. To the rod rigidly, at least asfar down as the center of gravity of the combined tube and float, a stayh is fitted in the tube.

municating with the tank j, see Fig. 2, through which the liquid to bemeasured flows, the said tank being usually divided into twocompartments by a partition in which is a V notch, weir, or orifice.

In proceeding to use the improved arrangement of float chamber andfloat, the.

float chamber is placed immediately above the measuring instrument, seeFig. 2, and with the rod 7 directly withthe rack-carrying rod is of theinstrument. The rod 7 is then connected by an inextensible member suchas a cord, chain or rod, with the top end of the rod is, the connectionof the said member Z rod 7 being preferably by means of the slit end ofthe rod and av clamp g, whilethe connection of the said member Z to therod is is preferably through the medium of a turnbuckle m to allow ofthe rod is relatively to the float. lower end of the rod it may be .aweight 0 to insure of the rod is falling when the float fal s. v a

It should now be seen that with a liquid in the float chamber a and thelevel of such liquid rising and falling, the vertical movements of thefloat 6 will be transmitted in a direct vertical line to the instrument,all pulleys and their attendant drawbacks being avoided. By extendingthe rigid rod 7 well below the center of gravity of the combined tubeand float there will be no tendency, due to the pull of the connectingmember Z, to tilt the float sidewise or otherwise disturb itsequilibrium. Further, as the center line of the float chamber is made tocoincide with the center line of the operative member of the instrument,the tendency is to avoid the above and in line of the correct adjustmentI Fig. 2,

the said last named of the further tube,

trally to said floor part concentrically to float touching, or cominginto contact either with the float chamber, or with the, central tube 0,and to eliminate friction.

lVhen the float chamber a, is placed, as. in over a feed tank p, a tubep will be provided in the feed tank for the rod to pass through.

What I claim is 1- 1.1n combination, an instrument for 10 measuring aliquid flowing over a V notch or through an orifice, said instrumenthaving an operative member capable of being operated by a float, a floatchamber above said instrument, a tank having a or weir,

15V notch, weir or orifice, means whereby the tank communicates with thefloat chamber, this latter having an orifice in its floor part, anopen-ended tube secured to the said floor part of the float chamber andconcentric to orifice, said tube extending upward to a height somewhatabove the maximum level of the liquid to be meas ured, a further tubelying over and around the said fixed tube, a cap in the upper end anannular float at the lower end of the said further tube, this latterbeing of a length suflicient to allow the float to descend to. theminimum level of the liquid to be measured, a rod secured centhe saidcap in the top end of the further tube and extending to a point wellbelow the center of gravity of the combined. tube and float and meansfor connecting the said rod at its lower end directly to the said 35operative member of the measuring instrument, substantially as hereinset forth.

2. In combination, a float chamber having an orifice in its floor part,an open-ended tube within the chamber and secured to the the saidorifice, said tube extending upward to a height somewhat above themaximum level of the liquid to be measured, a further tube lying overand around the fixed tube, a cap in the upper end of the further tube,an annular float at the lower end ofthe said further tube, this latterbeing of a length sufflcient to allow the float to descend to the Copiesof this patent may be obtained for fivecents each, by addressing theminimum level of the liquid to be measured, a rod, secured centrally tothe said cap in the top end of the further tube and extending to. apoint well below the center of grayity of the combined tube and float, astay within the further tube through which the rod passes, a liquidmeasuring instrument and connecting means at the lower end of the rodfor connecting the rod to the operative member of said measuringinstrument, substantially as herein set forth.

3.. In combination, an instrument for measuring a liquid flowing over aV notch, or weir, or through an orifice. said instrument having anoperative member capable of being operated by a float, a float chamberhaving an orifice in its floor part, an openended tube within thechamber and secured to the said floor part concentrically to the saidorifice, said tube extending upward to a height somewhat above themaximum level of the liquid to be measured, a further tube lying overand around the fixed tube, a cap in the top end of the further tube, anannular float fixed to the lower end of the further tube, this latterbeing of a length sutflcient to allow the float to descend to theminimum level of the lieuid to be measured, a rod secured centrally tothe said cap in the top end of the further tube and extending to a pointwell below the center of gravity of the combined float and tube, a staywithin the further tube throuoh which the rod basses, said rod at itslower end having a slit, a clamp on such lower slit end, a turnbuckleconnected to the said o erative member of the measuring instrument, andmeans between the said slit end of the rod and the turn-buckle whereb astraight-line connection is obtained, substantially as herein set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

JAMES EDWVARD LEA.

set

Witnesses:

"WALTER GUNN, FRED. C. PENNINGTON.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washing-tomD. CL.

